Deflector means for hopper spouts



E. A. THUMLERT DEFLECTOR MEANS FOR HOPPER SPOUTS FiledJune 23, 1936 Dec. 28, 193 7.

Patented Dec. 28, 1937 DEFLECTOR MEANS FOR HOPPER SPOUTS Edgar A. Thurnlert, Marion, Ohio, assignor to The Fairfield Engineering Company, Marion, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application June 23, 1936, Serial No. 86,788

4 Claims. (Cl. 110-165) This invention relates to a guide for ash-hopper gates and, in particular, to a guide adapted to serve as a chute for directing fluid leaking past the gate into a collecting trough when the gate is closed, and for guiding ashes away from the trough when the gate is open.

While ash-hopper gates having movable and pivoted guide members have been known heretofore, they have not been entirely satisfactory from "the standpoint of simplicity and low cost of construction, and efficient operation. It is an object of this invention, therefore, to improve upon the constructions of ash-hopper gate guides heretofore known. In accordance with my invention, 1 mount a shelf or chute below the spout of an ash hopper, for tilting movement. The shelf is movable to two alternate positions, one in which it discharges into a collecting trough below the spout, and another in which it discharges in the opposite direction. I provide means whereby opening and closing ofthe gate operates the shelf from one position to the other.

A complete understanding of the invention may be obtained from the following detailed description thereof, when read in connection with the accompanying drawing illustrating a present preferred embodiment. In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a View partly in section and partly in side elevation; and

Fig. 2 is a partial section to enlarged scale showing the parts in alternate position.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, the lower portion of an ash hopper is indicated at I0 and is'provided with a discharge opening II. A spout l2 extends around the opening, and is secured in any convenient manner to the framework of the hopper which encloses the refractory lining thereof. An arcuate gate !3 is carried between side frames M which are pivoted on the spout at 5. The gate is thus rotatable to the open position shown in dot and dash'lines by means of a lever l6 and an operating handle IT. The lever it is secured to one of two counterweights lScarried on extensions from the side frames M.

The water which is used to quench the ashes in the hopper leaks past the gate it between its lower edge and the lower wall i 9 of the spout [2. A collecting trough 29 extends the width of the 50 spout for collecting this leakage, and is provided with a discharge pipe 2i. The trough is offset with respect to the lower'edge of the bottom wall IQ of the spout I 2, and in order 'to guide the leakage into the trough, I provide a shelf or chute 22. The shelf has trunnions 23 extending from opposite ends thereof. These trunnions may be formed integral with the shelf or attached thereto in any convenient manner, and are journaled in bearing brackets 24 attached to the side walls of the spout i2 and extending downwardly therefrom.

A crank arm 25 is secured to one of the trunnions 23, the outer end of the arm being pivoted I 2i secured thereto, the pivot shaft itself being secured to the adjacent side frame IQ of the gate for movement therewith. The arm 2'! has a pin 28 adjacent the end thereof cooperating with a slot 22 in the link 26. The end of the slot 29 nearest the crank arm 25 is offset as at 38 for a purpose to be pointed out later.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that with parts in the positions illustrated in the solid lines, any leakage of quenching water past the gate [3 will be guided by the shelf or chute 22 into the trough 2B. When the gate I3 is opened by pulling down on handle ii to move it to the position shown in dot and dash lines, the shelf 22 will be swung into a position substantially in alinement with the bottom wall IQ of the spout. This movement results, of course, from the engagement of the pin 28 with the upper end of the slot 29, and the consequent clockwise rotation of the crank arm 25 and the shelf 22. The ashes in the hopper ID are discharged through the opening I I as soon as the gate is opened, and assist in tilting the shelf. The position of the latter is such as to guide the ashes being discharged away from the trough 2|! and toward a collecting receptacle, such as an ash car below the hopper.

When it is desired to close the gate 13, an upthrust on the handle I! is sufficient to bring this about. The shelf 22, however, is not restored to the solid line position until the gate is practically closed or until the pin 28 engages the lower end of the slot 29. In other words, the shelf 22 is reset only during the last few degrees of travel of the gate. This insures the stoppage of the flow of ashes before the chute or shelf is again tilted toward the trough 20.

The offset in the slot 29, because of the weight of the link 21, causes the shelf 22 to start to tilt toward the position. shown in dot and dash lines as soon as the gate 13 starts to open. This movement is aided by the downflowing ashes. Even if the shelf should not tilt immediately on movement of the gate, no ashes can flow intothe trough 20 because the lower edge of the bottom wall I9- of the spout extends practically into engagement with the shelf 22 when the latter is in the solid line position. Positive tilting force is applied to the shelf 22 as soon as the pin 28 reaches the upper end of the slot 29. The gate I3 is so balanced as to remain in closed position without looking, and the shelf is thus positively maintained in proper position when the gate is closed.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that the invention provides a guide for hopper gates which is a marked improvement over such devices as known heretofore: The construction is simple and of relatively low cost, and the device is very efficient in operation, serving not only to direct leakage water" into the collecting trough but to prevent positively the discharge of ashes into the trough when the gate is open..

Although I have illustrated and described herein but one preferred form of the invention, it will be understood that it may be otherwise em.- bodied within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In combination with an ash hopper spout having a gate pivoted therebelow, said gate blocking the spout when closed, said spout being adapted to discharge granular material by gravity when the gate is open, a shelf pivoted below the bottom of the spout, a crank movable with said gate, a link pivotally connected to'the crank and shelf whereby to tilt said shelf in one direction when the gate is opened and in the opposite direction when it is closed, the tilting axis of the shelf' being so located that the shelf tends by its own weight to tilt in said first-mentioned direction, and said shelf being positioned under the spout and closely adjacent thereto so that material discharged therefrom tends to tilt the shelf. in said firstmentioned direction. v

2, In combination with an ash hopper spout having a gate pivoted therebelow, said gate blocking the spout when closed, said spout being adapted to discharge granular material by gravity when the gate is open, a shelf pivoted below the bottom of the spout, a crank movable with said gate, and a link pivotally connected to the crank and shelf whereby to tilt said shelf in one direction when the gate is opened and in the opposite direction when it is closed, the tilting axis of the shelf being located under the bottom of said spout.

3. In combination with an ash hopper spout having a gate pivoted therebelow, said gate blocking the spout when closed, said spout being adapted to discharge granular material by gravity when the gate is open, a shelf pivoted below the bottom of the spout, a crankmovable with said gate, and a link pivotally connected to the crank and shelf wherebyto tilt said shelf in onedirection when the gate is opened and in the opposite direction when-it is closed, the tilting axis of the shelf beingso positionedthat the shelf. moves substantially into engagement with the bottom of the spout when the'gate is closed whereby the material discharged on opening the gate is prevented from moving in said opposite direction but is effective to tilt the gatein said first-mentioned direction.

4. The combination with a hopper spout and a gate tiltably mounted therebelow adapted to block the spout when closed, said spout being adapted to discharge granular material by gravity when the gate is open,of a shelf tiltably mounted below the gate, and means for tilting the shelf into a position in substantial alinement with the spout when the gate is open and into a position at an angle therewith when the gate is closed, said means being effective-to move the shelf from said first-mentioned position to said second-mentioned position only whenthe gate is substantially fully closed.

EDGAR A. THUMLERT. 

